Honey-box case and clamp



(No Model.)

0. S. FOSTER.

HONEY BOX' CASE AND CLAMP.

Patented'Mar. 2, 1886.

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INiTnD STATES OLIVER S. FOSTER, OF MOUNT VERNON, IOWA.

HONEY-BOX CASE AND CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part; of Letters Patent No. 337,143, dated March 2, 1886.

Application lilcd June 17, 1885.

.To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, OLIVER S. FOSTER, residing in Mount Vernon, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Honey-Box Cases and Clamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specilication, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts' in all the figures.

Figurelisaplan viewofone ot'myimproved honey-box cases and clamps shown as applied to a set of honey-boxes. Fig. 2 is a side ele vation ofthe same, the clamp being shown in section through the line a: so, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a honey-box having the edges of its top and bottom bars recessed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a honey-box having the edges of its top, bottom, and side bars recessed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view Fig. 6 is a front elevation of one of the cam-p1ates. l The object of this invention is to provide cases and clamps for holding honey-boxes in position while upon a hive and while being placed upon and removed from the hive.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the various parts of the case and clamp, as will be hereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

A represents ordinary honey-boxes, which may be made with the edges ofthe top and bottom bars recessed to form spaces for the passage ot' bees, as shown in Fig. 3, or with the edges ofthe top, bottom, and side bars reoessed, as shown in Fig. 4.

The case is formed of two side bars, B, and two end bars, C, andis made of such a size as to inclose thirty-two (more or less) honey-boxes, A, as maybe desired. These side and end bar: form two L-shaped sections open at di agonally-opposite corners.

The open angles of the case B C are covered by angle-plates D, of sheet metal or other suitable material. rIhe corners of the angle-plates D can be beveled, and their side edges are bent over outward to form grooves or shoulders E, for the edges of the cam plates or disks F 5o to engage with.

Serial No. 168,959. (No model.)

or are driven through the said bars and I clinched.

The slots I are made of such a length as to allow the case to have the necessary expansion. The other holes G in the cam-plates F are designed to receive a bent awI or other suitable tool for turning the said cam-plates to lock and release the bars' forming the case B C.

J is the clamp-frame, which is made rigid and a little larger than the case B C. To the middle parts of one side bar and one end bar of the frame J are attached blocks K to rest against aside and an end of the case B C. These blocks K cause a space to be formed between the clamp and case at one end and side, and a similar space is formed between the clamp and case at the other end and side by reason of the arms ofthe U-shaped blocks L. projecting beyond the inner face of the clampframe. kBy thus forming a space between the clamp-frame and the honey-box case the camvfastenings of said case may bcreadily operated after the clamp has drawn the sections of the case closely together. Upon the middle parts of the other side bar and end bar of the frame J are placed U-shaped blocks L, the edges of the arms of which rest against the side and end of the case B C, and which are held against the said case by hand-screws M, passing through the said blocks and into the said side bar and end bar of the frame J.

In using the invention the case B C is laid upon a table, bench, or other smooth surface, and is expanded by turning the cam-plates F back from the shoulders E ofthe angle-plates D. The honey-boxes A are then arranged within the case B C, the clamp .I is placed around the said case, and the hand-screws M are'turned forward, contracting the case B C upon the said honey-boxes. When the case B C has been drawn suiiciently tight, the cam` plates F are turned against the shoulders E to When the honey-boxes are to be removed from the hive, the clamp J is applied to the case B G, and honey-boxes, case, and clamp are taken off together. With this construction, when the honey-boxes are adjusted and pressed ltogether by the case, there will be no spaces left between them for the bees to ll with propolis, and the outside of the honey-- boxes will be protected from contact with the bees, so that the said honey-boxes will not be disfigured or discolored with wax. /Vith this construction, also, Several tiers ofhoney-boxes can be used without leaving spaces between them in either direction, and the tiers can be readily changed, or a tier when nearly filled can be easily reversed, so that the bees will fill all parts of the combs with honey.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A case for honey-boxes, consisting of' the two Lshaped sections B C B C, disconnected .at two diagonally-opposite corners, anglepl'ates D, embracing the open corners of said case, and eacharin of said angle-plate provided with a slot and a shoulder, as described,

pins passed through the slots into the casing,

and wedging devices working between the pins and shoulders, substantially as set forth.

2. A case for honey boxes, made substantially as hereinshown and described, and consisting of two sides, B, and two ends, C, forming L-shaped sections opened at diagonallyopposite corners, and provided at the open corners with angle-plates D, having shoulders or flanges E at their side edges, and provided with slots I, and cam-plates F, pivoted to the said sides and ends through the slots Lwhereby the said case can be locked firmly in place when adjusted, as set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a honeybox case and clamp, consisting, essentially, ofa case formed of two L-shaped sections open at diagonally-opposite corners, fastening devices at said open corners, and an outer removable clamp-frame, having spacing-blocks K on one inner side and end, land U-shaped blocks projecting beyond the inner sides of 55 the opposite side and end, and adjustingscrews in said U-Ashaped blocks, substantially as set forth.

OLIVER S. FOSTER. Witnesses:

W. L. RooKwELL, W. J. ALEXANDER. 

